Jul 12 2008
Why Are You in Debt?–Part II
When I look at myself and why I have continued to be in debt on a regular basis I had to take a look at my past to find out what happened to me. I remembered that when I received my allowance I would save it regularly and I remember taking it to school and it got stolen. I had planned on buying my mother something special for Mother’s Day. I should have left the money with her but I was afraid she would spend it hehe. I laugh about it now as she never would not do that sort of thing. I remember spending time with childhood friends, who would get money from their grandparents, and their parents spent it on clothes for the child and groceries. So when it came time for my classmate to want to use the money to spend on something that they desired they would ask for it, and their parents would say? Oh I will pay you back this weekend, I had to use your money to buy food for the family. So I see where I got that in my mind. From after that incident I have been spending money and not saving it as I feared it would be stolen. Although money can be stolen, it is a loss too when you can’t find your wallet, or left your purse somewhere and you come back and it gone. It feels as if you are being invaded personally and financially.
Have you ever had anything of your stolen? How did you feel?
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One Response to “Why Are You in Debt?–Part II”
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That’s an interesting analysis; it is always good to explore the reasons for our behavior. I would never have considered that someone might worry about their parents taking their money, or that a theft might put someone off saving, but both are logical responses, particularly for a child. Child’s responses become ingrained, and behavior continues into adulthood.
I never had anything stolen as a child. I was taller than the average for my age, so I guess I wouldn’t have been a target, but I also never really had anything with me in school worth stealing. As an adult, I’ve had my wallet taken twice, once along with my jacket, and my iPod taken once. After that, I did find myself considering whether or not I should take certain things with me. “I’m not going to use my ATM card today, maybe I should leave it at home.” and “I am never on the bus for long; do I really need a new iPod?”
Having something stolen feels like an invasion: it always feels like a personal attack, leaving the victim defensive. Then there are the reminders: the time spent getting replacement items for the missing ones, the phone calls to cancel stolen cards. It is a whole process.